Railway-crossing.



M. F. MOORE.

RAILWAY CROSSING.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 20. BIG.

1,273,085. Patented July 16, 1918.

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M. F. MOORE.

' RAILWAY caossme.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 20 I916.

1 ,273,085. Patented July 16, 1918.

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MILES F. ivroonn", or Los ANQELEQ'CALIFOBNIA; ASSIGNOR or ONE-HALF 'ro SYDNEY I.

WAILES, 01? Los AneELEs, canrronnra.

RAILVIAY-CROSSI'NG;

Application filed. June 20, 1916; Serial No. 104,679.

To all whom ti /may 00mm: I

Be it known that I, MILEs F. Moons, a

.citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Railway-Crossings, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to railway crossings, and more particularly to railway crossings the intersecting rails of which are adapted for; co-action with flanged rollingstock wheels and in which a substantially uninterrupted rail surfaceis provided for traverse by such flanged wheels at theintersect-ion; I-n railway crossings as ordinarily eonstructech-the rails are interrupted to provide flange-ways to permit the transverse passage ofrolling-stock over a set of rails,

w'heeltreads in falling-into suchfiange ways causes the rapid destruction of the crossing as well as shortening; the life of rollingstock-features such as motor frames, wheels, etc, all as will be understood by "those familiar with this art. It is also highly desirable that the'noise occasioned by the traverse of rolling-stock wheels over standard crossings be eliminated.v

In accordance with thepresent invention movably mounted means for filling the flange space of the rails being traversed by rolling-stock wheels at any given time are provided, together with means for moving such first named means into position to provide an approximately uninterrupted rail surface capable of withstanding the severe strains incident to service so that the rolling stock wheels and the loads carried thereby may be moved across intersecting tracks or rails with a minimmrn of wear and tear on trackage and rolling-stock and the objectionable noise aforementioned.

simultaneouslywith the movingout of position of such flange-wayclosing means as are provided in tracks or railsintersectmg the rails in useand which fia-ngeway closing means would otherwise obstruct the flanges of saidrolling-stock wheels. The invention further is concerned with the provision of heati means in. association with devices of M2: 1 c this eneral nature to )revent blllClln or p The inven- 1 tion further provides means whereby the 1 seizure of the movable members thereof due" to ice, snow, and the like. The meansfor moving the first named means into position may operate automatically, that is, may be actuated by the wheels of the rolling-stock upon approach to the crossing, or the same by suitable modification, may be actuated voluntarily as from a'switoh tower or the like.

The invention has for a further object the provision o fa railway crossing of the general nature stated which may be self contained, which will be relatively simple and inexpensive in construction and organization when itsother features of superiority such as durability, freedom from liability to get out of order or repair, noiselessness of v operation", and general superiority in servand the impact incident to the rolling-stockic'eability are considered.

iththe above and other objects in view,

the invention consists in' the novel and useful provision, formation, combination, association and relative arrangement of parts, 7 members and features, all as will be hereinposition than in Fig.2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view, partly in elevation, taken on the line 92 0c Fig. 3, and looking in the direction of the appended arrows;

Fig.5 is an enlarged detail plan view of certain features of the invention; 4

Fig. 6 is a view similar to' 2 of a modified form of'the invention; and I Fig. 7 is a plan view, partly broken away and sectioned for clearness of illustration, of a still further modified form of the invention, this figure showing heating means in combination with or associated with other features of the invention. 7

Correspondingparts in all-the figures are designated by the same reference characters.

Referring with particularity to the drawi the rail surface 8 and the guard portion 9 ings, in the embodiment of the invention therein shown, A designates, in each inright angles to the rails A and intersecting the same, C designates, in each instance, means for closing a flange-way provided in the rails A to permlt rollmg-stock-wheel flanges traversing the rails B to cross the I ra1lsA,D designates, in each instance,means for closing a fiangeway provided in the rails B to permit the crossing of such rails B by rolling-stock traversing the rails A, 0 designates in each instance, actuating meansfor a means C, (Z designates, in eachvinstance,

' means for actuating'a means 1), E in each instance, designates means for operative'connectlonbetween a means 0 and a means I),

" and]? designates means of connection to cause the simultaneous operation of all of .the means C and D provided at the intersection of a given pair of rails A and B.

Therails A eaclr'comprise a rail surface or portlon 8 adapted to co-act with the treads of rolling-stock wheels, a guard portion 9, and a-web 10 adapted to lie upon a roadbed or be otherwise suitably supported, there being a flange-way 11 between and extending along each rail A and terrail B is'similarly organized and comprises a rail surface portion 12, a guardportion 13,

and a web 14 adapted to lie upon the roadbed or be otherwise suitably supported, a flangeway 15 being provided between the rail surface 12 and the guard portion-13 and extending along the rails B and terminating at any preferred point. In the formof'construction shown in the drawings the rail structure is shown as of box-like cross section, though the same may be of any other preferred and suitable cross section.

The means C for filling or closing the flange-ways 15 provided'through the rails 8 may each consist ofa reciprocatory member' 16 adapted to be vertically reciprocated and guided in a chamber 17. The member 16 is preferably in the form of a rectangular block and is adapted to bridge each such shoulder 18, a plurality of links 20 being provided to support the body or member 16 in elevated flange-way-bridging I position and to assist in the withdrawal of the same from such elevated position. Each link 20 is bifurcated as at 20 and'secured to the body 16 by means of a pivot 19, an

it is providedwith a vertical pivot 22 and slide, through the link 23, in such direction spective rail A at the intersection of such minating at any; preferred 13011113." Each Each of the actuating means 0 preferably comprises a member 21 chambered in the body. of the rail B, a slide 22 adaptedto ride on the web 1 1 of the rail B, a link 23 pivotally connected at one end to the slide as at 2A and pivotally connectedpat its other end to the member 21 as at 25, and the links 20 which are loosely pivotally connected with the slide 22 asat 26." "Elongated aper- "tures 26 are provided in the link ends adjacent to the slide to receive horizontal piv' ots 27 carried by the slide, and the slide 22 is recessed as at 28 to form a seat for thelower ends of the links 20 when the member or body 16 is in elevated position. The slide 22 extends from a point beneath the 1118111? ber 21, under the member 16 and the links 20 to a point inside of the rails A Where the member 21 is pivotally connected to the respective rail B as at 29 and normally extends into the path of a rolling-stock wheel flange to be depressed thereby todraw the as through the links 20 to retract or lower the member or body 16 and thus clear the 'flangeway to be used.

' Each means D preferably consists of a" member or body 30 chambered in the rerail with a rail B, as at 81, such body 30 being constructed and organized similarly to the body 16 constituting the means (l.

Each actuating means cl is constructed similarly to the actuating means 0, and

comprises a member 35 chambered in a rail A as at 36, a slide 87 adapted to ride on the web lt and inside of'the rail str'ucture, a link 38 pivotally connected" at one end to the slide as at 39 and pivotally connected at its other end to the member 85 as at 10.

The member 35 is disposed in a flange-way '11 and in position to be engaged and depressed by the flange of a rolling-stock wheel. The slide extends from beneath the member 85, beneath and past the body or member '30, said members being cut away and slidably inte'rfitte d in the ordinary manner, and past the links ea and to a point between the rails B where it is provided with an upright pin is,

At each point of junction of a rail A and l a rail B and within the inclosure formed by such rails, 1s a bell crank A l constituting the means E. Such bell crank ltis pivoted as at A5 to an extension 46 of the web 14: and one arm A7 of the bell crank 44 is bifurcated jas at47 to embrace the pivot 43 of the respective slide 37 and the other arm 41-8 of the bell crank 4A is bifurcated as at 18 to receive and engage the pivot 22 of the respective slide 22. The walls of the 'boXlike rail structure are cut away to permit intrusion and movement of the bell crank arms 47 and 48.

The connecting means F preferably comprises a plurality of horizontal links 49, each connected at one end to an arm 50 of a bell crank 14: and to an arm 47 of another bell crank 44 as will be clearly understood by reference to Fig. 1 of the drawings. By this means actuation of one of the flange- Way closing means'will cause the simultaneous actuation of all of the others of any particular group of such flange-way closing means so that contact of rolling-stock flanges with the respective actuating means 0' or 03 will so set the means C and D, with relation to each other, and to the rails that the treads of the rolling-stock wheels will have an approximately uninterrupted rail surface to traverse and the means C or D lying in the plane of the advancing rolling-stockwheel flanges will be in depressed position.

In the modified form of construction shown in Fig. 6, the means and elementshereinbefore described may be employed, or part of the actuating means may be eliminated, in accordance-with preference, as in this form of construction one of the slides 22 or 37 may be provided with a series of rack teeth 51 with which meshes a pinion 52 mounted on a short shaft 53 beneath the web 10 or 141, such web being cut away to permit intrusion of the pinion. The shaft 53 is journaled in suitable bearings and has secured thereto diametrically opposed arms 51- and 55 V which are connected by means of links 56 and 57 respectively, with an operating handle or lever 58 which is suitably pivotally mounted as at 59. Such operating handle may be disposed, with slight modification of the linkage, in a switch'mans tower or at any other preferred point of control.

In the modified form of construction shown in Fig. 7, the bell cranks 44 and links 49 are shown as inclosed in a casing or closed trough 60 and heating means G are disposed in such trough to prevent the binding of parts by ice, sleet or the like,

the entire crossing being maintained at a temperature sufficiently high to prevent" such freezing up or seizing of parts. The

7 sired, to y'ieldingly limit the travel of the slides 22 and 37, the buffer 62 by allowing slight over-travel of the slides compensating for unusual flange depth of rollingvstock wheels, allowing the members 21 and 35 to be depressed slightly farther than necessary to raise the means C and D the required height. Such buffers may be used in connection with any of the forms of the invention illustrated.

The operation, method of use and advantages of the invention will be readily understood from the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and the following statement:

The members 21 of the actuating means 0 being disposed in the flange-ways of the rails B and outwardly of the point of intersection of the rails A and B, that is to say, in the path of rolling-stock advancing toward the intersection, such members will be engaged and depressed by the flanges of the ing the respective links 20 outwardly and thus lowering the respective bodies or members 16 to clear such flange-ways of obstructing bodies or members 16. Simultaneously with the depressing of the members '21, and the retraction of the bodies 16, the bodies 30 will be elevated, due to the cross-connections through the bell cranks 44L of the means E and the connecting means F. It will thus be seen that rolling-stock approaching the intersection in either direction on the rails B will by flange contact depress the members 21 first encountered, thereby positioning all of the members and parts to provide approximately uninterrupted rail surface for rolling stock traverse and clearing the flange-ways to be "used. Similar actuation, with reversal of movement, however, occurs when other rolling-stock approaches the intersection on the rails A, striking members 35, and depressing the members or bodies 30 while the members or bodies 16 are raised to provide approximately uninterrupted rail surface of the rails A. In the form of construction shown in 7, by manipulation of the lever 58, the slide to which motion is given through the pin-ion will be moved cor- .respondingly, and through the bell cranks wise interfere with the voluntary actuation of the means C and D, but will in addition means for automatically actuating the members C and D upon the approach of rollingstock, just asthough the lever 50 and train of operative connections to the pinion were not present.

It is manifest that many variations may be made in departing from the' specific dis closure herein in adapting the invention to.

comprising a member normally projecting 7 into the path of travel of the rolling-stock wheel, and another member chambered in the trackage and reciprocated by and movable responsive to movement of said first named member; and said first named means comprising a body mounted for elevation and depression in the traction-wheel-flangeaccommodating-rail-channel and operatively connected with said second named member; a link to that end being provided between said second named member and said body, pins respectively upon said second named .member and said body whereby said link loosely pivotally connects the latter, and shoulders upon said second .named member and said body engaging with said link to transmit the strain of the load imposed upon said body to said second named member when said body is in elevated position.

2. The combination, withintersecting rails for flanged rolling-stock wheels; of movably mounted means for producing an approximately uninterrupted traction surface of one rail at the point of intersection of the rails, and means positioned to be actuated by a rolling-stock wheel for moving said first named means; said last namedmeans comprising a member normally projecting into the path of travel of the rollingstock wheel, and another member chambered in the trackage and reciprocated by and movable responsive to movement of said first named member; and said first named means comprising a body mounted for elevation and depression in the traction-wheel flange accommodating rail channel and operatively connected with said second named member; a link being provided to that end which constitutes a direct support for said body when the body is in elevated position and which link transmits the weight of the load to said second named member.

3. The combination, with intersecting rails connecting such bell cranks.

for flanged rolling-stock wheels; of movably mounted means for producing an approximately uninterrupted traction surface of one rail at the point of intersection of the rails, and means positioned to be actuated by a rolling-stock wheel formoving said first named means; said last named means comprising a member normally projecting into the path of travel of the rolling-stock wheel,

and another member chambered in the trackage and reciprocated by and movable re sponsive to movement of said first named member; and said first named means comprismg a body mounted for elevation and depression 1n the tractioirwheel flange accommodating rail channel and operatively means and chambered in the trackage, there being a plurality of such members for each 7 point of rail intersection, devices operatively connecting such members ateach rail intersection, and means operatively connecting said devices whereby all such members at all rail intersections are operatively inter-related. V V

5. In a railway crossing, members movably chambered in the trackage at rail intersections, bell cranks connecting such members at each intersection, and link rods 6. In a railway crossmg, members movably chambered in the trackage at rail intersections, bell cranksconnectiug such mem-' bers at each intersection, and link rods connecting such bell cranks; further members being operatively connected with said first named members and positioned to be depressed by engagement with rolling-stock wheels.

'7. In a railway crossing, members movably chambered in the trackage at rail intersections, bell cranks connecting such members at each intersection, and link rods.con necting such bell cranks; further members being operatively connected with said first named members and positioned to be depressed by engagement with rolling-stock wheels prior to the arrival of such wheels at the zones of intersection.

S. The combination, with two pairs of intersecting rails capable ofrtraverse by flanged rolling-stock wheels; of movable means positioned within the dimensions of the rails for providing approximately continuous traction surface at the points of intersection of the rails, and means capable of accommodation within the space confined by the intersecting rails whereby said first named means are operatively inter-related. 9. The combination, with two pairs of intersecting rails capable of traverse by 5 flanged rolling-stock wheels; of movable means positioned Within the dimensions of the rails for providing approximately continuous traction surface at the points of intersection of the rails, and means capable of 10 accommodation within the space confined by the intersecting rails whereby said first named means are operatively inter-related; together with means accommodated within the confines of the rails for moving said first named means. 15

In'testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

MILES F. MOORE. Witnesses:

ALFRED H. DAEHLER, FRANKLIN MUNGAR.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

- Washington, D. G." 

